LIHUE — Two newly-appointed members of Mayor Derek Kawakami’s cabinet, along with the mayor himself, will be resigning their positions with Grove Farm Company and its associated corporations in order to avoid public perception of a conflict of interest or bias toward one of the island’s largest private landowners.
Finance Director Reiko Matsuyama, appointed by Kawakami to the position last week, has been Grove Farm’s director of finance since 2012. But Kawakami said Wednesday that Matsuyama will be leaving her job in the private sector before stepping into her new role with the county government in January.
“This requires a clean separation,” Kawakami said.
Both Kawakami and his appointed Department of Parks and Recreation director, Patrick Porter, sit on the Grove Farm Museum board of trustees. Although Kawakami maintains that Waioli Corporation, which manages the museum, is not directly tied to Grove Farm’s land management companies, Kawakami said that he and Porter will resign their seats on that board as a precautionary measure.
Kawakami said it is important for him to create an honest and trustworthy government, in keeping with his family’s values.
“We’ve been able to successfully be a part of leadership on this island — our family — for many generations because our foundation is based on integrity, respect, trust, compassion and humility. And that is something that is instilled in me,” he said.
The new mayoral appointments were announced just days after a highly contentious County Council-elect meeting, attended by some residents alleging that Council Chair Arryl Kaneshiro’s position as general manager with Grove Farm creates the potential for a conflict of interest.
When asked whether to comment on the issue, Kawakami said he believes Kaneshiro will be able to remain unbiased.
“I’ve known Arryl for a number of years,” Kawakami said. “And I have 100 percent faith that he will make the right decisions for the right reasons.”
In an interview Wednesday, Kaneshiro said in spite of the recent testimony at council-elect meetings, he is not concerned that his job at Grove Farm will negatively impact his ability to act as council chair.
“I don’t see it,” he said. “If you look at what I’ve done (as a council member) for the last four years. I don’t think anyone can criticize.”
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Caleb Loehrer, staff writer, can be reached at 245-0441 or cloehrer@thegardenisland.com.
